[tschmidlin]

No zucchini?  Man, zucchini on the grill is one of my favorite things to eat.

Yeah, we love zukes.  Grilled is awesome, but I even like to grate it and mix it in with taco meat.

I like to mix 'em with egg, onion, bread crumbs, whatever and make zucchini cakes.

mmmmmmmmm

Going to be growing Zukes for the first time this year. Anyone have any tips? Do they grow like cucumbers or do they sprawl out further like winter squash? Do tomato cages work well for them? Don't know the exact variety of seeds I have, but it's one of the typical straight green varieties from Burpee.

Pick them young, the fruit grow fast!

The ones we grow are like other squash, sprawling all over.  I've never tried them with tomato cages, but I'm not sure it would work.  They grow on the ground, not up on a structure - which isn't to say they won't, but it doesn't seem to be their inclination.  Maybe someone else has tried it.

[Hokerer]

Going to be growing Zukes for the first time this year. Anyone have any tips? Do they grow like cucumbers or do they sprawl out further like winter squash? Do tomato cages work well for them? Don't know the exact variety of seeds I have, but it's one of the typical straight green varieties from Burpee.

Main thing to know about growing Zukes is to not overdo it.  If you plant a whole row of them, you'll have enough Zukes to feed an army..

[euge]

If zucchini is anything like cukes you won't need more than two plants to be overwhelmed.

[punatic]

I grow mirlitons.  They grow on my fences like weeds.  Sliced, battered and fried - they ROCK!

You probably know them as chayote, euge.

[erockrph]

If zucchini is anything like cukes you won't need more than two plants to be overwhelmed.

Well, I eat at least a whole cuke a day myself when I have them fresh from the garden. 2 plants doesn't quite cut it at my house, but I get where you're coming from there. I've heard that zucchinis are insanely prolific, so I'll probably keep it to 3 plants each planted a week or two apart.

[Alewyfe]

I got onions (white and red), leeks and mustard greens in. My tomatoes are nearly ready to transplant into the ground.

Will triple the size of my growing area this week. Will also have 6 yards of garden soil delivered on Thursday.

Then it will be chiles and cucumbers. Might try some zucchini squash.

Cheaper to buy beans than grow them. Pics will follow.

Not cheaper to buy beans if you love the tiny French filet variety like we do. Blanched al dente and dressed with some shallot, balsamic vinaigrette while still warm...mm, mmm, mmm. So wonderful on a salad plate.

[Alewyfe]

No zucchini?  Man, zucchini on the grill is one of my favorite things to eat.

Yeah, we love zukes.  Grilled is awesome, but I even like to grate it and mix it in with taco meat.

Going to be growing Zukes for the first time this year. Anyone have any tips? Do they grow like cucumbers or do they sprawl out further like winter squash? Do tomato cages work well for them? Don't know the exact variety of seeds I have, but it's one of the typical straight green varieties from Burpee.

If you make the mistake of planting too many Zuc's like we did, you can sneak over to your neighbor's at night and just leave them on the doorstep. Or......pick the blossoms and stuff them.....Or......dip the blossoms in batter and deep fry them. They are delicious. Picking the blossoms and eating them this way is not only a decadent gourmet delight, but it keeps you from having too many fruits mature.

[boulderbrewer]

If you go with a Zucchini, you could go with one that doesn't need polination (perfect pick) you should be fine with 2 plants 3 would be plenty, don't let them grow longer than yourself. Don't let the neighbors see you checking them! They start upwards but begin to sprawl, 6-8 foot square you should be good.

[roguejim]

About a month ago, I received a packet of Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Strain chile seeds from this
outfit:http://www.thehippyseedcompany.com/.  I have no intention of ever eating these chiles myself, but for some of my more daring friends, I will provide! 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy-KZ1XuxpY&feature=player_embedded 

[kmccaf]

About a month ago, I received a packet of Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Strain chile seeds from this
outfit:http://www.thehippyseedcompany.com/.  I have no intention of ever eating these chiles myself, but for some of my more daring friends, I will provide! 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy-KZ1XuxpY&feature=player_embedded

Send 'em my way! I love eating really hot peppers. I remember when I was 16 or so, and some coworkers brought in some habaneros, and all the guys ate them to see who could handle it. I was a bit more like the gentleman in the video, talking about the flavor, and how wonderful the heat was, but everyone else was huddled around the water color. To be fair to them, I was indeed in a lot of pain (I don't know what variety they were), but they were also very tasty. FWIW, I think habaneros taste much better than other hot peppers, and they are also quite lovely to grow.

[roguejim]

At the end of Summer/harvest, I'll post again.  Remind me then.  Maybe you could post a video of yourself eating one!

[tschmidlin]

That would be awesome

I love hot peppers too - I've got some bhut jolokia going, but I would never try to eat one like this guy did.  If I ever get fruit I'll send some to anyone who promises to post a video of themselves eating one

I ate some really hot wings recently - apparently made with habeneros.  Usually my face starts to sweat, forehead, under my eyes, that kind of thing.  This time the tears just started rolling down my face but I didn't sweat much at all.

[phillamb168]

Just wanted to share the latest news - the jalapenos, poblanos, cali golden bell peppers and san marzano tomatoes have gone gangbusters and went from just having the two seedling leaves to 6-8 regular leaves in about four days. A GroLamp for 14 hours a day will do wonders, it seems. I've transplanted the tomatoes and jalapenos into 2" x 4" peat pots and will be breaking them in outside starting in a few days. I've already planted bloody butcher corn and Crimson Sweet Watermelon in their place, and I'll have the kale in soon after that, along with squash etc.

I think next year I will raise the lamp up a bit to spread the light around, and double the size of my container. It's really nice having these in the 'guest bedroom' (aka junk room) right now, because I can take care of the plants after I put the kids to bed.

I would love any suggestions you guys have for my poblanos once they're out and producing... I know I can do stuffed poblanos with chorizo and queso but other than that?

[bluesman]

Anybody grow pumpkins?

I started some seedlings and will try again this year.  Last year I had a tough go with them, but when at first I don't succeed...try...try...again. 

[erockrph]

Anybody grow pumpkins?

I started some seedlings and will try again this year.  Last year I had a tough go with them, but when at first I don't succeed...try...try...again. 

Give them a LOT of room. They will take over your whole garden if you let them. I was set to have a pretty nice crop of them last year, but I got hit with squash beetles (which in turn brought a fungal infection) real bad so they never made it past august where they were mostly bowling ball size.

I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to try for one giant pumpkin this year or several jack-o-lantern sized ones.